If you’ve read DC Universe: Rebirth #1, you know that elements of Vertigo’s Watchmen have been incorporated into the main DC Universe, including the full-on intro of Dr. Manhattan into the world. However, Watchmen‘s creators were apparently never contacted about their characters’ inclusion in the new DC status quo.
According to Newsarama, in an interview at MCM Comic Con, Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons confirmed that he and writer Alan Moore were not contacted about the inclusion of their creation into this new DC Universe, though he offered no additional comment. Check out the super-awkward beginning of the interview here:
I obviously don’t know the specifics of the contracts signed between Moore, Gibbons, and DC/Vertigo, but this has been a touchy subject for years since Alan Moore claims that his contract with DC basically promised that he and Gibbons would eventually get the rights to Watchmen back, but that DC reneged in a shady way. He and Gibbons stopped talking when Gibbons seemed to be okay with getting paid a lot to consult on the use of Watchmen characters by other writers. Cue comics industry drama.
This interview makes it clear that DC hasn’t been dealing entirely fairly with Gibbons either. DC obviously owns these characters and can do what they want, but it seems strange that they wouldn’t talk to Gibbons about this when he’s consulted on their other uses of the Watchmen characters, like their Before Watchmen series, and the Zack Snyder film.
Now, in addition to Watchmen being in the DC comics universe, HBO confirmed at the end of last year that Warner Bros. is developing a Watchmen TV show. So much more Watchmen to come. But will the creators have any say in these things ever again? And should they at this point? What do you think? Tell us below!
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